Face it, many of us carry a backpack, a messenger bag, a tote or something similar to work on a daily basis. Likewise, if you have young children you definitely get stuck carrying the diaper bag. (Yeah, that one you wouldn’t have been caught dead with at 23.) So, it’s just smart, and makes sense to have the right bag for your own Outdoor Adventures, or Every Day Carry (EDC).

Think about it, even on a day trip or spur of the moment, quick adventure, you’re probably carrying:

Depending on weather, the destination and who you’re with, you might also have:

Minimalist survival kit item

Binocular

Rain gear or an extra layer

Stuff for whoever else you are travelling with

Lastly, you might be carrying a concealed firearm or survival type knife (the “tactical” part).

That’s a LOT of stuff!

So, what do ‘ya do? Where do you put all that gear so you can carry it comfortably, still have it organized, and most importantly access it quickly and easily – especially if you are carrying a concealed weapon?

Your first answer is probably a backpack, right? Backpacks are great for hauling gear (sometimes lots of gear) from point-A to point-B, but backpacks have a couple of drawbacks:

A backpack might be overkill. You might not need something as big as a typical backpack or day pack.

Lack of organization. A typical backpack or day pack might not allow you to organize all your stuff as nicely as you’d like. You might have to throw it all together in one big pocket.

Finally, the big downside to the “backpack” is just that, it rides on your back. Generally speaking, access to anything on your back is definitely not quick, or easy. You usually have to ask somebody else to access your pack, or you have to stop whatever your doing, take off the pack, put it down, possibly unpack a bunch of stuff, get what you need, shoulder the pack and get going again.

Maxpedition Tactical Sling Packs provide a perfect solution!

Sure, these days, lots of people call lots of things “tactical.” (The term is probably one of the most over-used words out there.) So what’s actually “tactical” about Maxpedition bags? Maxpedition builds every bag they make with a specifically designed, easy-to-access concealed-carry weapons pocket. (That’s not just tactical, but practical!)

If you’re not familiar with the brand, Maxpedition makes high-quality, value-oriented hard-use, tactical gear which is “used by military, police and outdoor professionals around the World.” Direct from their website, the “company originated as a builder of premium-grade military equipment” and has refined their “design and manufacturing abilities over many years with real life feedback from serious users.” Construction highlights include:

Paracord zipper pulls to make it easier to find the pulls and for ease of operation – even with gloves.

Bottom-line: This is high-quality gear that will handle whatever you’re gonna throw at it. My personal recommendation is to get something from their “Famous Jumbo Collection.” Here are some Amazon links for ease of purchase and to give you an idea of street prices:

Look for an upcoming post specifically on the Maxpedition “Famous Jumbo Collection.” I’ll cover the pack in more detail, discuss what I like about it, explain the variants listed above (S-Type, L.E.O., E.D.C., K.I.S.S. etc.) and I’ll provide links to some alternatives if you want something smaller, or need something bigger. If you can’t wait, check out the company website here: www.Maxpedition.com

Gee, its a Maxpedition. Let me guess, $400 for one of these. The problem with this label is that other peolpe assume that you are packing heat or have a shitload of expensive gear that is worth stealing. It’s like a blinking stobe light that you have more money than sense. Whould I like on of these? Hell yes. However, I would not leave it in the car, walk around town or leave it outside. If I wasn’t actually using it, I would leave it at home so I didn’t attract attention to it.

I’m a believer in that old saying, “you get what you pay for.” I also believe in buying quality, and buying once; doing it right the first time. When you save a few bucks to get an inferior product you usually spend more in the long run replacing gear that keeps breaking down or just doesn’t quite get it right. You can get some great Maxpedition packs, like the Fatboy and Jumbo Versipack, in the $80 – 100. That’s a very fair price for what you get, which is a very well thought out piece of gear, with phenomenal fit, finish and attention to detail. Now, I’m not saying you need to go out and buy everything Maxpedition sells, but it’s definitely worth it for a good, tactical EDC, day-pack, adventure, camera or first aid pack.

In terms of it being a blinking strobe light… Sure, some law enforcement, military folks and people into this stuff may pickup on it, but the average person won’t, especially if you go with something other than camo, OD green or black, etc. I take mine with me walking around town, hiking, camping, on the beach, mountain biking, etc. and I’ve never had a problem. Just have to smart about it, and maintain your situational awareness. Just like anything else you might leave in the car, make sure it’s out of view and you shouldn’t have a problem.

They’re great packs. They work very well and are a fair price for what you get.